Visit of Sarlat la Canéda in Dordogne
Stay at 20 min from Sarlat-la-Caneda
Welcome to our camping in the Black Perigord. Our camping Sarlat, the capital of the Périgord noir, houses all the facilities for a comfortable family stay in the Dordogne: fully equipped luxury mobile homes for 2 to 8 people, canvas bungalows, spacious and shaded pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, aquatic area with heated swimming pool, paddling pool and solarium, inflatable structure, children's playground, volleyball court, boules pitch, ping-pong tables, bar, pizzeria, grocery store, laundry...
To make the most of your holiday in Sarlat, Dordogne without spending too much, check out our promotions and reduced rates.
What to see in Sarlat
Sarlat, one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the south of France, city of art and history it contains an exceptional heritage like the cathedral Saint-Sacerdos, the convents Notre-Dame and Sainte-Claire, the church Sainte-Marie, the house of La Boétie and other mansions in the historic center. Between medieval alleys and Sarlat hotels private homes with remarkable facades, Sarlat-la-Canéda is rich in an important built heritage.
Its city center actually holds a record density, worldwide, of listed buildings! You can take advantage of a guided tour to make sure you don't miss out on any of its architectural and historical treasures or stroll at your own pace through the cobbled streets of the old town.
During your walk, stop to admire the Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral, the Watchtower, the Gisson Manor and the emblematic Goose Market Square.
Finally, do not hesitate to stop in front of the menus of the numerous restaurants in Sarlat, which are among the most famous to make you discover the generous and typical flavors of the Périgord as it should be. Gastronomic restaurants offering the specialties of the region such as foie gras, duck breast and truffles, cohabit with historical monuments. To visit Sarlat is to combine the discovery of heritage with the pleasure of the palate.
By going to the Sarlat tourist office, you can join a group for a guided tour through the city's cobblestone streets.
Take advantage of your visit to Sarlat to hike in the Vézère Valley and take a river tour in the Dordogne Valley, fly over the castles in a hot air balloon and understand why Sarlat-la-Canéda is a fairy-tale place loved by filmmakers that has been used several times as a film location.
Sarlat tourism: the 5 must-sees
- Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral
This cathedral mixing Romanesque and Gothic styles built between the 12th and 17th centuries and classified as a historical monument is distinguished by its architecture, its beautiful proportions, its organ, its bulbous bell tower and its magnificent chapels. - Gisson Manor
It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings of the medieval era in Sarlat. The Manor of Gisson is open from 10am to 6:30pm (closed at 7pm in July-August). Admission is free for children under 10 years old. - Clocher of the Sainte-Marie church
This church converted into a covered market is located in the center of Sarlat. Our favorite: its panoramic elevator that leads to the bell tower, where a striking view of the city awaits you. - Lantern of the Dead
This strange chapel sometimes nicknamed the Saint-Bernard Tower and the Tower of the Moors was built in the 12th century in honor of Saint-Bernard, a monk who is said to have distributed breads capable of healing the sick. - La Belle Sarladaise
Organized by the tourist office, this costumed tour of the city lasts about 1 hour. Your guide, who wears a medieval costume, will transport you to the Middle Ages to tell you what Sarlat was like in medieval times. - Local festivals and events: The Sarlat Theater Games Festival in July and August www.festival-theatre-sarlat.com.
Where to eat in Sarlat
If you're a foodie, you're in for a treat in the Périgord! With so many regional products to choose from, it's a breeze to find a good restaurant in Sarlat or in Périgord noir. As you will see, when it comes to gastronomy, the Périgord noir is not to be outdone.
The restaurants here carry several quality labels, including Maître Restaurateur, IGP foie gras Périgord or the Qualité Tourisme label, alluding to the quality of the region's products. Your taste buds will be delighted! Are you looking for a country inn, an urban bistro or a romantic restaurant? Head for Sarlat and other towns and villages in the Périgord.
The locals will always recommend gastronomic and traditional restaurants to taste the real flavors of the Périgord. If you are dining with children, why not treat them to a meal at a country inn on a farm?
Otherwise, there are a number of pizzerias, crêperies, brasseries and other quick options that offer easy solutions.
- Le Bistro de l’Octroi
Located at the entrance of the town of Sarlat, in a typical stone house, Le Bistro de l'Octroi, restaurant Sarlat, offers a pleasant and warm welcome. With an old-fashioned Eiffel veranda and summer terrace you can fully enjoy the pleasure of being at table. Its location at the entrance to the city, near the parking lot allows you easy access to the hotel restaurant. Opt for this restaurant if you wish to taste the typical and traditional dishes of the Périgord!" - L’Essentiel
This intimate restaurant in Périgueux is one of the best gastronomic addresses in the Dordogne. In a dining room with unexpected urban chic, with warm orange velvet chairs and walls lined with black and white flowers. Michelin-starred chef Eric Vidal pampers you with dynamic and inventive dishes made with local seasonal produce. Try his escalope, warm with foie gras combined with tender pink beet and a black garlic and acacia honey vinaigrette or his guinea fowl stuffed with foie gras accompanied by creamy melting potatoes in a walnut crust. The wine list is equally memorable, as is the peaceful crowned wooden patio out back, dotted with potted plants and demanding a deliciously long, lazy summer lunch. - Les Jardins d'Harmonie
Find this excellent Sarlat-la-Caneda restaurant hidden in a courtyard in the labyrinth of the old town. Plump for a table dressed in white inside cozy ginger stone walls and pillar-red chairs, or relax on the street terrace in warm weather. Chef Marc Bidoyet cooks Perigourdin classics (including the seasonal black truffle omelet, of course) as well as fusion-style dishes with subtle world flavors. Duck breast topped with fragrant Earl Grey tea leaves and velvety seared foie gras lightly spiced with Madagascar vanilla are favorites.
How long to visit Sarlat?
Sarlat, the city with slate roofs, is known for having the highest density of listed or registered historical monuments in the world. If you want to discover and explore each of them, you will probably have to stay several days. Take the opportunity to discover the interior of the medieval city but also its surroundings with its numerous castles, some of which are very well preserved like the Château de Puymartin. If you happen to be there on a Wednesday or Saturday, consider spending a couple of hours at the market on the Place de la Liberté. You can also take the time to go on a guided tour of the city that will tell you about life since the Middle Ages or to immerse yourself in the world of the time by visiting buildings like the Manoir de Gisson for example.
On the other hand, if you only have a little time to devote to the capital of the Périgord Noir, in the afternoon or during the day for example, take a walk in the picturesque lanes of the old town. Without necessarily visiting each manor house or religious building, take a leisurely stroll to admire their facades with different styles that testify to a chaotic but combative crossing of the centuries.
No matter how long you stay, try the local products! And above all, listen to your stomach and enjoy our specialties! Whether you stay for a day, a week, or even if you decide to come and settle in Sarlat...
What to do in Sarlat when it rains?
Between us, Sarlat is great and when the weather is nice it's even better right? We can go hiking, canoeing, walking in the streets of the most beautiful villages of France ... But when it rains then? Let's face it, nobody likes the rain! However, you'd be surprised how many activities you can do when the sky is gray. Because our beautiful Dordogne valley is not spared from bad weather!
- Visit the cathedral and its surroundings when it rains: Originally, the cathedral was the church of the abbey of Sarlat. Over the centuries, it has been added to and transformed and is now a mixture of Roman, Gothic and other styles. The cloister courtyard and the courtyard of the nearby fountains and the court of the canons were all originally part of the abbey...
- The Jardin des Enfeus just above the cathedral is the former abbey cemetery and home to several sarcophagi and "enfeus", tombs built into the church wall. Above the cathedral and the Jardin des Enfeus is an unusual structure "The Lantern of the Dead". This ball-shaped building has played various roles over time, including a burial chapel.
- Several mansions to discover when it rains: Facing the cathedral on Place du Peyrou is the splendid Hôtel de La Boétie, home of the philosopher and humanist Etienne de La Boétie. His house has a large vaulted entrance and mullioned Renaissance-style windows.
- Cross the Rue de la République by walking down the Rue des Consuls. This road is one of the highlights of Sarlat and contains a number of very impressive residences. There is the 16th century Hôtel de Mirandol with its imposing door, the 14th century Hôtel Plamon with its three arched windows. The upper floor with its mullions was added a century later. The Hôtel de Vassal was built in the 15th century, it has a double turret and the Hôtel Tapinois de Bétou and has a monumental staircase. Walking along the street admiring all the different details of the windows, doors and roofs is a pleasure.
- On a rainy day, discover the Manoir de Gisson and its cellars: Halfway down the Rue des Consuls is, originally called the Hôtel Magenta. The Manor of Gisson is composed of two buildings of different styles connected by a hexagonal tower. The building dates back to the 13th century. Recently opened to the public, your visit has two parts. The first is a tour of the vaulted cellars and rooms that feature items on the history of justice from the Middle Ages to the Revolution. This includes an exhibition of instruments of torture.
- The second part of a visit to the Manoir de Gisson is the private apartments showing the family life of the Sarlat nobility. The furniture dates from the Middle Ages to the 17th century and you can see the beautiful wooden floors, the woodwork and the huge fireplaces and of course the spiral staircase that winds up the hexagonal tower.
Where to buy foie gras in Sarlat
Sarlat is a land of foie gras! If you love foie gras, you've come to the right place! This star of the Christmas table and many other opulent celebrations is a standard dish here in Sarlat and the Black Perigord! Enjoy foie gras in all its forms: mousse, pâtés, whole foie gras, foie gras, block of foie gras... Not to mention the many specialties based on foie gras: stuffed duck breast or goose neck, medallions, galantines (containing 50% foie gras) and many other variations! To guarantee a certified origin from the Périgord, look for the IGP label "Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest". For a stronger taste, farmers recommend duck foie gras. Goose foie gras offers a milder flavor.
So how do you prepare foie gras? Sterilized (for a longer preservation) or lightly cooked (in a terrine or vacuum packed) for a more immediate meal, it can also be enjoyed hot: just sear some fresh foie gras in a pan and get ready to enjoy! Add a sweet note by deglazing the pan with raspberry vinegar or walnut wine... And a pinch of fleur de sel to tickle your taste buds!
In Périgord, foie gras is often enjoyed with a glass of Monbazillac or sweet Bergerac wine. Here are some places to buy foie gras:
- Buy directly from the foie gras farmers of Sarlat and the Périgord: go and meet the local farmers on the Route du foie gras! From the breeding of the birds to the processing of the livers to the canning, the farm is the best place to discover and buy this gastronomic product so emblematic of the Périgord !
- On the third Sunday of February, join the locals for the big Sarlat Fest'Oie event! You will have the opportunity to share a convivial moment, tasting as much foie gras as you want during the common banquet !
- À The cannery "Foie Gras Grolière": This artisanal cannery is a family business that defends the values of quality and respect for authentic flavors for over 50 years. With 38 medals at the Paris International Agricultural Show over 17 years of participation, they are proud of the gold medal they were awarded in 2015 for the goose foie gras set. As well as a Palme d'Or, a local prize and a silver medal at the Concours National du Foie Gras in 2016. Free visit and tasting of these products (foie gras, confits, enchauds, rillettes and the incredible crème brûlée with foie gras...) in their stores (Le Bugue, Les Eyzies, Sarlat).
- At the producer "Foie Gras de Lagrèze" : Canning, foie gras, wine, producer in Sarlat and Vézac. Traditional family business that uses the same recipes for generations to make goose and duck products and award-winning foie gras.
Why is the salamander the emblem of Sarlat?
The emblem of Sarlat is a salamander, perhaps due to the fact that once the salamander was the animal emblem of King François I during the French Renaissance. You can find it at the top of the tower of the cathedral and see it in other places in the city.
Rue de la Salamandre is named after a house decorated with a salamander, the animal emblem of François I. The Présidial was the seat of the royal court of justice created by King Henry II in 1552, hence its name.
Pour faire court, L’emblème de Sarlat est une salamandre non seulement en raison de la forme en « S » de cet amphibien. Mais aussi du fait que la salamandre était l’emblème animal de François Ier, roi de France de 1515 à 1547.The Jardin des Enfeus just above the cathedral is the former abbey cemetery and home to several sarcophagi and "enfeus", tombs built into the church wall. Above the cathedral and the Jardin des Enfeus is an unusual structure "The Lantern of the Dead". This ball-shaped building has played various roles over time, including a burial chapel.
